#It is the latest in a string of #Customs and #Border #Protection restrictions aimed at stopping goods made with forced labor from entering the US market.
CBP issued a “withhold release order” #Wednesday, allowing the agency to detain shipments of palm oil and palm oil products produced from #Sime #Darby #Plantation #Berhad.
“#Palm oil is an ingredient in a lot of products that #American consumers buy and use. #And I think it’s important for manufacturers and importers to be aware of where they’re at higher risk of forced labor, and to demand that their suppliers are adhering to protecting human rights of their workers,” said #Ana #Hinojosa, executive director of CBP’s #Trade #Remedy #Law #Enforcement #Directorate.
#After a months-long investigation into alleged labor abuses, CBP determined that the company’s palm oil production in #Malaysia met the criteria to detain imports to the US.
The latest investigation found evidence of debt bondage, poor living and work conditions, lack of sanitation, manipulated wages and excessive overtime at #Sime #Darby #Plantation #Berhad, #Hinojosa told CNN.
“#In many cases, we also found instances of physical violence, sexual violence, intimidation,” she said.
#Hinojosa said the “vast majority” of palm oil comes from #Malaysia and #Indonesia. #She said palm oil plantations in #Malaysia are very remote areas — away from transportation and communication.
The US imported approximately $410 million of crude palm oil from #Malaysia in fiscal year 2020, which constituted approximately 31% of total US crude palm oil imports, according to preliminary CBP data. #That does not include products that include palm oil.
#In many cases, she said, there are armed guards at these plantations that restrict the movement of workers, and there is a “strong connection” between forced labor and countries or industries that rely heavily on migrant workers.
#Sime #Darby #Plantation #Berhad employs approximately 24,800 migrant workers, who represent 63% of their workers on the ground in #Malaysia, according to CBP.
CBP issued 13 orders aimed at forced labor practices last fiscal year, ending in #September 2020.
#During the #Trump administration, the agency has ramped up its efforts in this area.
“#One thing that we sometimes get asked is, ‘#Is this going to go away with the change of administration?’, and I would have to say that this is an issue that is cross cutting and is very bipartisan,” said #Hinojosa.
#Although CBP has not yet had a deep-dive with the #Biden transition team on the forced-labor issues, #Hinojosa predicted this would remain a priority for the agency.
“#You’ll be seeing a lot more of this in the coming months and years,” she said.
#Update: #After the story was published, #Customs and #Border #Protection said it provided an inaccurate figure of #Sime #Darby #Plantation #Berhad’s production capacity figure for #Malaysia. #This story has been updated with figures from the company.
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https://edition.cnn.com/2020/12/30/politics/palm-oil-second-company-malaysia-forced-labor/index.html
##Trump #administration #block #palm #oil #company ##Malaysia #forced #labor #findings